Each April, communities across the country recognize National Child Abuse Prevention Month — a time dedicated to raising awareness, strengthening families, and reaffirming our shared responsibility to protect children.
Established in 1983, Child Abuse Prevention Month reminds us that child safety is not the work of one agency alone. It is the collective work of neighbors, schools, faith communities, businesses, service providers, and policymakers working together to build safe, stable, and nurturing environments for every child.
Because every child deserves to grow up feeling secure, supported, and heard.
Yet child abuse and neglect remain significant challenges nationwide, including here in Kansas.
The Scope of the Issue
According to the most recent federal Child Maltreatment report from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, nearly 546,000 children nationwide were identified as victims of abuse or neglect in the most recent reporting year. Infants and very young children are among the most vulnerable.
In Kansas, the Department for Children and Families (DCF) received more than 29,000 reports of suspected child abuse or neglect in State Fiscal Year 2026, with roughly half assigned for further investigation. These reports reflect a wide range of concerns, from neglect and unsafe supervision to physical and sexual abuse.
These numbers represent real children in real communities. Children whose safety, development, and futures are shaped by instability and trauma.
Local Reality: Douglas County and CASA’s Role
Here in Douglas County, the need for advocacy is clear. Each year, more than 140 children are removed from their homes due to abuse or neglect concerns and enter foster care. At any given time, well over one hundred children in our community are navigating the child welfare system.
Many of these children do not have a consistent adult focused solely on their best interests.
This is where Douglas County CASA stands as a steady, trusted voice.
Our mission is to recruit, train, and support volunteers to serve as Court Appointed Special Advocates (CASAs) for children under court protection. A CASA volunteer meets regularly with a child, reviews records, collaborates with parents and professionals, and ensures the child’s story is clearly heard in court and during critical decision-making moments.
The impact of that advocacy is measurable. Data from the Kansas CASA Association shows:
- 97% of children with a CASA volunteer had the same volunteer throughout the year, providing stability and consistency.
- CASA reports are submitted on time 95% of the time, helping judges make well-informed decisions.
- 98% of children with a CASA volunteer were not re-abused while in care.
Advocacy is not just supportive; it is protective.
Prevention in Action: Stopping Further Harm
Child Abuse Prevention Month is not only about preventing abuse before it begins. For CASA, prevention also means preventing further abuse, neglect, and trauma for children already in the system.
Children who enter foster care have already experienced disruption. Without careful oversight, instability can persist across multiple placements, leading to unmet needs or delayed services.
A CASA volunteer helps reduce that risk by:
- Monitoring safety and services closely
- Advocating for trauma-informed supports
- Ensuring educational and medical needs are addressed
- Promoting permanency so children do not linger in uncertainty
When a CASA volunteer is present, the likelihood of re-abuse decreases significantly. That is prevention in action — protecting children from experiencing additional harm while they are under court protection.
Prevention Begins Before Crisis
True prevention starts even earlier.
Many families who come to the attention of the child welfare system are facing serious stressors: poverty, housing instability, substance use disorders, untreated mental health concerns, or lack of access to childcare. When these challenges go unaddressed, they can escalate into unsafe situations for children.
Prevention means investing in families before a crisis occurs:
- Strengthening access to mental health and substance use treatment
- Supporting early childhood and parenting programs
- Expanding family preservation and in-home services
- Building community networks that reduce isolation
When families receive help early, children are less likely to enter foster care in the first place. Upstream investment strengthens not only individual families but the entire community.
A Shared Responsibility
Child Abuse Prevention Month is an opportunity to:
- Learn the signs of abuse and neglect
- Promote protective factors such as strong social connections and parental resilience
- Support policies that invest in prevention services
- Show visible support for children and families, including participating in community awareness efforts like Wear Blue Day
Protecting children is not optional. It is foundational to a healthy community.
In Douglas County, CASA volunteers play a critical role in ensuring that children in the child welfare system are seen, heard, and protected. But lasting prevention requires all of us.
Because when children are safe, stable, and supported, our entire community is stronger.
